Draft-equalizer.



PATENTED MAY l, 1906.

H. G. SCOTT. DRAFT EQUALIZBR. APPLIUATION PI'LiED sBPTlea, 1905.

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CTS:

W/T/VESSES:

H. C. SCOTT.

'DRAFT BQUALIZER. A APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. ze, 1905.'

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INVENTOH A TTUHNE Y S PATBNTED MAY 1, 1906 UNITED ,s-TATEs PATENT oEEroE.

HERMON O. SCOTT, OF RITZVILLE, WASHINGTON DRAFT-EQUALIZER. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 28, 1905. Serial No. 280.556.

. new and improved draft-equalizer arranged to distribute the load to be hauled equally to the animals in the team, to reduce the friction of the working parts to a minimum, and to provide a comparatively short but very strong and durable equalizer not liable to get out of order nor cause entanglement of the animals when in use.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more particularly described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims. f

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view of the improvement as arranged for a twenty-seven-horse team. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the rearmost draft-bar and its equalizing-bars, parts beingin section. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same.v Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.'

The draft-bars or doubletrees A, A, A2, A2,

and A4 (shown in Fig. 1) are arranged one in 'iront of the other, the rearmost draft-bar A being connected in the usual manner with the running-gear of the machine or other device to be hauled from one place to another. On the outer ends of the draft-bars are mounted to swing horizontally pairs of equalizing-bars B B, B B, B2 B2, B3 B2, and B2 B4, and on the outer ends of the equalizin -bars B B, B B B2 B2, and B3 B2 are adapte to be hitched by the usual hitcbing devices O to the draftanimals, preferably three for each equalizing-bar, so that six animals are abreast for each draft-bar A A A2 A2. To the pair of equalizing-bars B4 on the outermost ldraft- 'B3 B3, and B4 B4.

bar A4 are hitched three draft-animals by the use of swingletrees D, D',- and D2, of which the swingletrees D and D2 are connected by the attaching devices E and E with the outermost ends of the equalizing-bars B4, while the middle swingletree D is connected by the iiexible connections E2 with the inner ends of the said equalizing-bars B4. Each of the draft-bars A, A, A2, A3, and A4 is provided at its middle with a iixed clevis F, and each clevis projectsrearwardly and carries a ring G, connected with one end of a chain H, provided at its other end with a branch chain H', connected with the inner ends of the next rear equalizing-bars, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. l.

The fulcrum-points of the several pairs of equalizing-bars B B, B B, B2 B2, B3 B3, and B2 B2L vary according as the power in front diminishes relative to the drafts on the outer ends of the equalizing-bars, so that nally the three leading animals connected with the swingletrees D, D', and D2 pull against the -six animals immediately behind in a corresponding proportion, and so on throughout the team, that each pulls its own load and no more.

Thedetail construction of each draft-bar A, A', A2, A3, and A2 is as'follows: Each draftbar is formed of two members A5 and A6, connected with each other at the middle by bolts through the outer end ofthe members A5 and A6 and forming the ulcrums for the corresponding equalizing-bars B B, B B B2 B2, Each of the clevises F is provided at the terminals of its side arms with angular iianges F abutting against the front edges of the members A5 and A6r of a draft-bar to relieve the bolts I as much as possible of the strain exerted on the clevises F. Each of the bolts K extends through rubbing-plates L on the members A5 and A@ of a draft-bar, and also through rubbingplates L on the equalizing-bars to reduce the friction of each equalizing-bar to a minimum, it being understood that by adjusting the IOO IIO

nuts on the bolts K the desired contact can be obtained between the rubbing-plates L and L. By curving the members A5 and A, as described and shown in Fig. 3, suficient clearance is given for the inner ends of the equaliZing-bars to allow free swinging movement thereof without danger of producing undue friction. On the outer end of each equaliZing-bar is arranged a clevis N for connection with the correspondin hitching device C or the swingletrees D and 2, previously described, and each clevis N is made U shape (see Fig. 5) and straddles the corresponding equalizing-bar, and its rear end is pivotally connected at N with a strap l 2, fitting against the rear edge of the equaliZing-bar and provided with a number of apertures l 3, one of which is engaged by a bolt N4, employed for securing the strap N2 to the equaliZinfr-bar. By having the several apertures N3 tie strap N2 can be readily adjusted in a transverse direction on the equalizing-bar B to bring the clevis N into proper position. Thus a hitching device may be readily adjusted in a transverse direction by adjusting the strap N2 of the clevis N correspondingly, and without requiring detachment of the team connected at the time with the corresponding hitching device. As the outer portion of the rearmost equalizing-bars B is of considerable len th, I prefer to connect the outer portions of the said equalizing-bars by braces O with eyes K', formed on the upper ends of the pivot-bolts K, held on the rearmost draft-bar A. As each brace O is free to turn in the eye K', it is evident that it does not interfere with the free swinging movement of the corresponding equaliZing-bar B, and at the same time the latter is properly braced. The several equalizing-bars B, B2, and B"l are provided with tie-rings P for attaching the head horses immediately in the rear of a corresponding.equaliZing-bar. By arranging the equaliZmg-bars between the members A5 and A6 of a draft-bar and by connecting the equalizing-bars with the next following clevis F ahead in the manner described it is evident that a comparatively short draftequalizer is provided, even when a very large number of draft-animals are employed. It will further be seen that by the arrangement described an entanglement of the draft-animals is not liable to take place, andan exceedingly strong and durable draft-equalizer is provided not liable to get out of order or be broken when in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A draft-equalizer comprising a plurality of successively-arranged draft-bars, a pair of equaliZing-bars pivoted on each draft-bar, flexible connections between the inner ends of a pair of equalizing-bars and the middle of the next draft-bar ahead, and braces connecting the rearmost draft-bar with its equalizing-bars.

2. A draft-equalizer comprising a plurality of successively-arranged draft -bars, each made of a pair of ,spaced members, a clevis and bolts securing the clevis and members together at the middle thereof, pivots secured to the outer ends of the said members, a pair of equalizing-bars mounted to swing on the said pivots between the said spaced members, a ring on the said clevis, and chains connecting the inner ends of a pair of equalizinfr members with the ring of the clevis on the next draft-bar ahead.

3. A draft-equalizer provided with a draftbar formed of spaced members, a clevis having its side arms engaging the inner opposite faces of the said members at the middle thereof, and bolts passing through the said members and the side arms of the said clevis.

4. A draft-equalizer provided with a draftbar formed of spaced members, a clevis having its side arms engaging the inner opposite faces of the said members at the middle thereof, bolts passing through the said members and the side arms of the said clevis, pivots held in the outer ends of the said spaced members, and equalizing-bars extending between the said members and fulcrumed on the said pivots.

5. A draft-equalizer provided with a draftbar formed of spaced members, a clevis having its side arms engaging the inner opposite faces of the said members at the middle thereof, the terminals of the said clevis side arms having angular ianges engaging the front edges of the said members, and bolts passing through the said members and the side arms of the said clevis.

6. A draft-equalizer provided with a draftbar formed of spaced members, a clevis having its side arms engaging the inner opposite faces of the said members at the middle thereof, bolts passing through the said members and the side arms of the said clevis, and thimbles on the said bolts between the said side arms of the clevis, to spread the said members farther apart at the middle than at the ends.

7. A draft-equalizer provided With an equalizing-bar and a clevis for the outer end of the said equalizing-bar, the clevis being fulcrumed on an attaching-strap having a plurality of apertures, and a bolt on the said outer end of the equaliZing-bar engaging one of the said apertures,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HERMON C. SCOTT. I/Vitnesses W. W. ZENT, JOSEPH E. ZnNT.

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